Not so fast, says Oda to Alliance MPD sale

The takeover of Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution by U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs will come under review, says Heritage Minister Bev Oda.

She goes on to say that the distribution policy, as it exists currently, will not be changing: only the deal's foreign purchase components will pass under her radar, and only to ensure the existing requirement for Canadian control is met.

If you would like to tell the Honourable Minister that our Canadian content is sacred, and that foreign investment companies should keep their "stinking paws off our culture" (my words, paraphrasing Chuck Heston's - feel free to use your own polite words), please email her at Oda.B@parl.gc.ca

[via the Globe]

Updated: 6AM EST.

The Globe has a follow-up, which includes the responses of several directors and producers:

"If [Heritage] really does it, that will be good. It's easy to say these things, but they can also say they reviewed the MPD-Goldman Sachs deal, and still don't see anything wrong with it. We'll see what happens," David Cronenberg said.

The article notes that the deal "will also be subject to the Investment Canada Act."

Let's hope rational minds will prevail on this one.

Don't forget to send your concerns to the Minister; our thanks to the majors (especially Atom Egoyan, David Cronenberg, Robert Lantos, Denise Robert, and Paul Gross) for bringing this matter to the attention of Heritage Canada.

[via the Globe: "Oda's words welcomed by film at TV players"]